Fusion Biopsy Helps Urologists Detect Most Dangerous Prostate Cancers

New MRI technologies, such as fusion biopsy, are helping urologists locate malignant prostate cancer lesions more accurately.

Fusion biopsy enables physicians to perform biopsies with the help of direct guidance of the needle, using real-time ultrasound imaging, to the suspicious lesion.

The patient first undergoes a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) exam of the prostate gland. The images are then evaluated by a radiologist for suspected lesions. Next, a device called UroNav, made by Invivo (Gainesville, FL, USA), uses the information from the MRI exam, and live ultrasound imaging to enable urologists to more accurately perform the prostate biopsy procedure.

The procedure is especially effective for men who have undergone a traditional biopsy without cancer being found, despite PSA blood tests indicating a risk for prostate cancer. In the US, approximately 1.2 million men undergo a biopsy each year, and around 20 million Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) tests are performed. Trans-Rectal UltraSound (TRUS) biopsy and other traditional techniques only sample the lower part of the prostate gland, while nearly 30% of cancers are outside this area. The result has been that traditional biopsy methods have led to only 30%–40% results positive for prostate cancer, out of 1.2 million biopsies performed each year.

The fusion-guided prostate biopsy is especially useful for monitoring any change in the clinical status of low-risk patients, and can also help find more aggressive cancers faster, preventing metastasis.

Dr. David Samadi, David Samadi Prostate Cancer Center (New York, USA), said, "The MRI guided fusion biopsy allows for more accuracy, less repeat biopsies, and less pain. It is expected to eventually become standard of practice".

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